Tarian Bumi
Rusmini, Oka Jakarta: Gramedia Pustaka Utama 183 Pages This masterpiece Novel telling two main woman characters; Telaga and her Mother, Sekar a.k.a Jero Kenanga. Sekar was a Sudra* woman, who was left by his father who joined a communist party. She had a strong willingness marry a Brahmana** because by being a part of Brahmana, she would obtain respect from society and wealthier life. In the other hand at the end of story, Telaga married a Sudra man and was outcasted from her comfortable 'palace'. Tarian Bumi (Earth Dance), tells a number of various Balinese women. Not just about Sekar and Telaga, but also their relatives, friends and acquaintances; a tough lesbian, a high class prostitute, rape victim, idealist dancer, victim of ruthless foreigner, powerful Brahmana, and so on. The book describe strong balinese women to survive the life and to keep faith in Hyang Widhi, such as when Telaga abandoned her wealth family. She had to deal with a hard life as Sudra, in which her mother in law and sister in law also despised her. Also stories about Sudra women who have to work all day to feed the family, whilst the men was described as lazy and unfaithful. Mostly, the main women characters in this story are very strong-willed and could achieve what they want, but most did not embrace the happy ending. The love theme in this story got me consider that love is simple, but rooted culture and society made it a complex thing for Balinese. Overall, this book could depict how significant women roles in Balinese society and how it is possible to be rebel. God gave us affection feeling. Thus, embrace it wholeheartedly and be responsible with the huge consequence. We can choose to be happy and face the consequences or feel regret in a lifetime. In addition, the story still be able to be associated with our society in third world country. Indeed, Tarian Bumi is a thin book with a thick substance. *Sudra: lowest castes in Hinduism **Brahmana: highest castes in Hinduism
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little noteI love reading since I was an infant, I can't recall the exact age, yet from the very beginning folklore attracted my childhood's fantasy. Archives
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